Here are my notes for a study I am teaching on Saturday....thought it was so wonderfully given by God I would like to share it with you!
My Goal:
I want you to love your faithful high priest Jesus (whom Samuel was just a picture of Him in the old testament)
I want you to realize you can’t do hard things without the Spirit of God within you.
I want you to know how to listen to the Word of the LORD and when to act on it.
I want you to gaze upon the faithful High Priest’s perfect obedience on the cross as your example of doing hard things.
Do hard things.....
Samuel: Here I am
Recall the story of Hannah and the birth of Samuel from 1 Samuel 1 and 2?
Read aloud: 1Samuel 2:11-17
12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.13The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,14and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.15Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.”16And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”17Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
Why were the sons of Eli corrupt?
What was the purpose of the Sacrifice? Leviticus 7:29-34
“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings.30His own hands shall bring the Lord's food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord.31The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons.
What were Hophni and Phineas doing with the Sacrifice?
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Isaiah 56:11 Yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough, and they [are] shepherds [that] cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
a Flesh-hook=a many-pronged fork used in the sacrificial services ( 1 Samuel 2:13 1 Samuel 2:14 ; Exodus 27:3 ; 38:3 ) by the priest in drawing away the flesh. The fat of the sacrifice, together with the breast and shoulder ( Leviticus 7:29-34 ), were presented by the worshipper to the priest. The fat was burned on the alter ( 3:3-5 ), and the breast and shoulder became the portion of the priests. But Hophni and Phinehas, not content with this, sent a servant to seize with a flesh-hook a further portion.
How did God feel about this? Isaiah 7:13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
Do not think that the profanity of the false pious will be overlooked by God?
How did the young men react to the son’s profanity? Verse 17
Now do you see why it angered the LORD?
Was Priest Eli ignorant of this? How did he deal with it? Verse 22-25
But Samuel ministered (served) before the LORD,
even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.
Could you imagine...year after year Samuel watched Eli’s sons do wickedness without receiving correction or any consequence for their sins! When Samuel was weaned he must have still been very young....maybe even 3 or 4 years of age? And when the LORD spoke to him it was over 10 years later! But I want you to notice what Samuel continued to do within the 10 years....”he ministered before the LORD....the child Samuel grew before the LORD...and the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men....” While Eli’s son’s grew more worthless, young Samuel grew more valuable before God.
Now read Eli’s first warning..... 1 Samuel 2:27-29 , 31-34 , and 35
From verse 29 what does God say Eli and his son’s wickedness has done to his offering? And who did Eli honor more than God?
What was God’s judgement on Eli? Verse 31-34
Who is this faithful priest God will raise up in verse 35?
35And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.36And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, “Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.”’
I think he is speaking of Samuel and his anointed refers to the coming king David, but I also believe He speaks prophetically because he says forever....He is the faithful high priest spoken in Hebrews 2:17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (NIV)
Jesus, for through David’s lineage would be born this faithful high priest!
Mchenry writes: .....Notwithstanding the degeneracy we see and lament in many families, God will secure to Himself a succession. If some grow worse than their ancestors, others, to balance that, shall grow better. It has its full accomplishment in the priesthood of Christ, that merciful and faithful high priest whom God raised up when the Levitical priesthood was thrown off, who in all things did his father’s mind, and for whom God will build a sure house, build it on a rock, so that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.
This is a HARD message to give...especially to a “holy man of authority”. It’s like you going up to your pastor and saying, “Sir the Lord says....and your family will be no more.” Could you do it? Or the more important thing to ask would be...Would you do it? What would be at risk for you to do such a hard thing?
Now remember Samuel? Scholars believe he may be around 13 years old by now....some of you are a little older than that and God calls him to do a similar hard thing. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-3 and tell me what is going on in Isreal’s temple around Samuel?
1. The word of the LORD was rare Amos 8:11 (Not a good thing)
2. Eli’s eyes were growing dim (a outward picture of his spiritual state growing dim)
3. Lamp of God was just about to go out (the lamp of God symbolized God’s presence)
When it seemed as if all hope was lost, God calls a child. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, 1 Cr 1:28 If you reject to obey God’s instruction, He will choose another and it will shame you.
Read on 1 Samuel 3:4-14
How did Eli tell Samuel to address himself before the LORD in verse 9? When you desire to listen to the instruction of the LORD you are chosen weak and foolish by world’s standards and always foremost deemed His servant and not your own master.
What did God tell Samuel to tell Eli? Verse 11-14
Pretty hard stuff....imagine now how would you feel?
Read 1 Samuel 3:15-18
How did Samuel feel? Verse 15 What made Him tell Eli? Verse 17 How did Eli respond? Verse 18
We don’t know exactly how long it had been between the time Samuel told Eli God’s judgement and when it actually happened....but it is understood, there was a pretty hefty length of time in between, because in verse 19-21 it says Samuel grew....could you imagine telling a Pastor or anyone older that and then waiting for it to be fulfilled? How would your relationship change? Would you start to doubt as time dragged on and there seemed to be no hint of it being fulfilled? Would you be angry when it wouldn’t happen as quickly as you had thought?
Now that Samuel had done everything the LORD called him to do at that moment, how did he respond to the waiting? Read verses 19-21
He grew and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
Whatever Samuel said, as a prophet, it proved true, and was accomplished in its season.-Mchenry
Pslam 1 1Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
This prosperity do not be mistaken...it’s not like Samuel got rich and drove the fanciest chariots around town all the days of his life. The prosperity I believe he lived was far greater than that! He was deemed as a true prophet of God....when he spoke for God the people believed him because it came true! According to Jeremiah 14 there was serious punishments for those who claimed to speak for God and were not!
How was Samuel able to maintain this spiritual growth? Verse 19....and the LORD was with him. Let me tell you that you can do nothing hard or difficult unless the LORD first calls you to do it, unless you submit to His authority as Master and you His servant, and lastly unless He is with you all the way.
You won’t grow unless He is with you, you won’t mature unless He is with you, and you certainly will make no difference unless God is with YOU!
The question that now stands is: Do you even hear Him?
Jhn 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Jhn 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Evidence of His true followers is obedience. Remember the words Samuel used when God first called him? “Here I am....” He was in essence saying, “yes LORD I am here to do your will no matter the cost...I am your servant.”
How can you discern His voice from others?
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 Amp version: 2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
How do you renew your mind, your attitude? Remember Psalm 1?
2but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
What is your delight? What wakes you up in the morning? Or are your days heavy, dull, overwhelming? Have your ears been silent to the Father’s gentle calls in the middle of the night to dine with you, His precious son? Have you neglected reading His word with that once eagerness you had when you first realized these words were your Father’s words to comfort you and His promises to keep you? Do you pass your time being renewed by the lies of this world that says, “Live for the moment! Enjoy yourself! It’ll be a while before Jesus returns, life your life now!” Do you realize God is speaking to you right now....what will you do with what He says? Are you even listening?
I am reminded of my friend’s daughter who is a few months younger than LiLi and the other day she was out playing in the park with all the older kids. Her mother was watching her from a distance and noticed that she was starting to look frightened and anxiously looking for her mother. Seeing her daughter distraught she gently calls out to her and waves to get her attention reminding her “mama’s right here sweetheart!” Do you daily hear your heavenly Father doing the same?
I had mentioned before that in 1 Samuel there already was prophecy of Jesus as our perfect and faithful high priest and that Samuel was merely a foreshadow of what was to come. The amazing news is that even when we mess up and are unfaithful....He always is faithful.
2 Tim 2: 11The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13if we are faithless, He remains faithful—
for He cannot deny himself.
If by this message your examine yourselves and say, “I have forgotten Him” realize this is only God’s call to turn you back to Himself. He has HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU! He LOVES YOU! He gave HIS SON so that you can be obedient like Samuel! He gave HIS SON so that you can be obedient like HIM!
